The Island

About a quarter-mile in diameter and filled with lush tropical vegetation, Louie's island provides a scenic tropical home for the small jungle tavern known as Louie's Place. The island's most outstanding feature is the inland cliff range, a series of steep rocks rising hundreds of feet above the ocean. Perched at the cliffs' peak, atop a metal frame supported by timber beams, is a large "Louie's" sign greeting visitors to the island. Every evening, an automatic timer activates the dozens of colored light bulbs installed around the edges of the sign, creating an impressive glowing display visible for miles.

The natural splendor of Louie's island explains why the island is popularly known as the "garden spot of the South Seas". Palm trees, banyans, and tropical ferns are among a variety of exotic plants found within the dense jungle surrounding the rocks. A series of sparkling waterfalls cascade down the cliffside and into a jungle stream which runs throughout the island, branching into several small pools and lagoons deep within the heart of the jungle. Few animals inhabit the jungle interior, so visitors are free to take a leisurely stroll along grassy footpaths and wooden bridges, enjoying the tranquil beauty of their surroundings.

Long, sandy beaches occupy the island's uneven shoreline, interspersed with numerous hills and grassy knolls. Louie's Place itself is situated on the western shore, the most accessible portion of the island's coast. Rocky islets, some of which contain small caves, lie scattered in shallow water around the remainder of the shoreline. Several of the larger rock formations serve as nesting places for seabirds. On the eastern shore, barely noticeable from the opposite side of the island, lies a small dock and a couple of buildings Louie uses for storage.

Very proud of his island home, Louie occasionally runs tours for visitors. Many of these excursions include brief forays into the jungle or trips up and down the cliffs in hand-operated cable cars. Plans to expand the tour with a sight-seeing railroad have met with dismal failure due to lack of funds and manpower, as well as Louie's own reluctance to needlessly spoil the jungle habitat. Even so, Louie has made several alterations to his island property already, including the rumored addition of boobytraps hidden at strategic points in the cliffs — self-defense measures, Louie claims, in the unlikely event someone would attempt to run him off his island.

Louie takes sightseeing to new heights.	Louie's unfinished railroad tour.